Crocworld speaker goes back 1.3 billion years
THIS month’s guest speaker, Professor Mike Watkeys, will take his listeners back 1.3-billion years when he presents a talk on the geological history of the South Coast at Crocworld Conservation Centre on November 14 at 9am.
Don’t miss his fascinating environmental talk entitled ‘How the South Coast Came To Be The South Coast: 1.3 Billion Years Of Earth History’. It will offer a fascinating insight into the geological processes that created the landscape we call home.
In the past, the centre’s monthly talks have focused primarily on the flora and fauna of the present-day South Coast, but Prof Watkeys’ talk will go back millions of years in time to explore how the ecosystems we know and love today were first created.
With this goal in mind, he will outline the geological evolution of the South Coast from the time of the region’s oldest rocks until the present day. With some rocks dating back approximately 1.3 billion years, there is a considerable amount of time to be covered.
Prof Watkeys will talk specifically about how the region’s continental crust was formed, before focusing on the break-up of the ancient super-continent Gondwana – an event that led to the creation of our present coastline.
This promises to be a truly fascinating morning that will instill in all guests a greater appreciation for the South Coast’s incredible history, evidence of which exists right beneath our feet.
Prof Watkeys has spent the greater part of his life exploring the planet’s geological past. Born in Malta in 1952, he grew up in Ghana and Germany before attending boarding school in England. He graduated from the University College of Swansea in Wales in 1975 with a degree from the Department of Geology and Oceanography, then returned to Africa to work for the Rhodesian Geological Survey.
In 1978 his work was interrupted by conflict and he moved to South Africa to study for a masters degree at the University of Witwatersrand. Upon completing his PhD, he joined the Department of Geochemistry at the University of Cape Town as a post-doctoral researcher.
In 1989 he was appointed to the academic staff of the Department of Geology and Applied Geology at the University of Natal, Durban. Today, he is a professor of Geological Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville campus.
The talk offers local people a rare opportunity to hear a true expert speak on the subject that has been his passion for the past four decades. Those who attend should arrive at 8:30am in time for registration . Prof Watkeys is expected to speak for approximately an hour and a half, including question time, after which guests are invited to stay for tea, coffee and scones.
Tickets are R70 per adult with a concessional price of R30 for scholars and pensioners. This includes admission into the centre itself. To make your reservation contact Nolean Allun at 039 976 1103 or 083 654 9651.
